Donations poured in from political parties, business leaders, community

Firefighters transfer stranded residents in Yanshou County of Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang province, Aug 5, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

HONG KONG – The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government approved on Monday a grant of HK$65 million ($8.31 million) in relief for flood-hit areas in northern China, following donations of at least HK$63 million from the city’s private sector and social groups. 

In late July, record-breaking rains brought by Typhoon Doksuri inundated North and Northeast China, including Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province. The flooding has led to a large number of casualties and left millions of people homeless. 

As of Thursday, over 3.88 million people in Hebei had been affected by the flood, with 29 dead and 16 missing, in addition to the total direct economic loss of 95.81 billion yuan ($13.2 billion). As of Aug 8, Beijing had recorded 33 dead, 18 missing and 1.29 million people affected, with thousands of homes destroyed and schools and farmland inundated. 

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The situation, coupled with torrential rains brought by Typhoon Khanun, worsened after Khanun landed in Northeast China’s Liaoning province on Saturday.

Announcing the donation on his social media platform on Monday afternoon, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu expressed his deep concern for those affected by the disaster, saying he has instructed authorities to maintain close contact with various rescue organizations regarding the disaster situation and related relief support in a bid to assist people in the disaster-stricken areas in returning to their normal lives as soon as possible.

The grants demonstrate the close relationship between Hong Kong and mainland people and the spirit of mutual help.

Spokesman, HKSAR Govt

Lee said many in the city, both groups and individuals, have lent a helping hand by making generous donations to those affected by the flood.

Lee expressed hopes that unity will overcome the disaster, and called on the community to render continuous attention and support to the situation of the disaster-hit mainland areas.

In a statement released on Monday, an HKSAR government spokesman said, “The severe rainstorms and floods have resulted in serious casualties and property losses, thereby calling for urgent disaster relief work.”

The HKSAR government will maintain a close liaison with the nine organizations to monitor the progress of their implementation of relief projects to help affected people resume normal life as soon as possible.

The HKSAR government approved disaster relief applications from nine organizations after the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the northeast were hit by severe rainstorms and floods, according to an HKSAR government statement.

The nine organizations are the HKFTU Disasters Relief Charity Fund, the Federation of Hong Kong Beijing Organizations, World Vision Hong Kong, the HK United Youth Exchange Foundation, The Hong Kong Island Social Services Charitable Foundation, the Hua Jing Youth Foundation, Hong Kong CPPCC (Provincial) Members Association Foundation, the All-China Women’s Federation Hong Kong Delegates Association Foundation, and the Amity Foundation, Hong Kong.

They are required to submit evaluation reports and audited accounts on the use of the grants to the Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee after completing their respective relief projects.

“The grants demonstrate the close relationship between Hong Kong and mainland people and the spirit of mutual help,” the spokesperson said.

“The HKSAR government hopes that the grants will provide appropriate assistance for the mainland compatriots affected, and help the disaster-stricken areas overcome difficulties and proceed with post-disaster reconstruction,” the spokesperson added.

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A rough calculation by China Daily showed that city tycoons and social groups have offered at least HK$63 million in donations for flood-hit northern China. They included 20 million yuan from the Lee Shau Kee Foundation; 20 million yuan from Cheng Kar-shun, chairman and executive director of New World Development Co and Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group; HK$20 million from Richard Li Tzar-kai, chairman of Pacific Century Group; and HK$500,000 each from the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions and the New People’s Party.

Hong Kong has been a good Samaritan to the mainland in times of disaster. In 2021, the city donated over HK$230 million to help Central China’s Henan province after the region suffered severe flooding.

Contact the writers at philiptubeza@chinadailyhk.com